• 1/13/2006
  • Ann Arbor, MI
  • Alexandra King
  • Nature Clinical Practice Oncology (2006) 3, 7

Researchers at the University of Michigan have published the first prospective study to compare quality of life (QOL) and xerostomia in patients with head-and-neck cancer receiving standard radiotherapy with those receiving salivary-gland-sparing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Between 1997 and 2002, 10 patients receiving standard radiotherapy were enrolled into this longitudinal case–control study; each was matched with a subgroup of IMRT patients (2–5 IMRT patients per group, median 3; n = 30). Patients were matched for tumor characteristics, radiotherapy status, and age. Xerostomia-specific questionnaires (XQ) and questionnaires specific to head-and-neck cancer QOL (HNQOL) were completed by patients before therapy and at regular intervals after completion of treatment. These questionnaires were designed to assess oral dryness and eating, communication, emotion, and pain, respectively.

During the initial months after therapy, questionnaire scores in both treatment groups worsened significantly compared with pretreatment scores. After 6 months, however, patients receiving IMRT showed significant improvement over time in XQ and HNQOL scores (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively). The improvement was most marked for HNQOL, particularly in the scores for pain and emotion. There was no trend toward improvement over time in those receiving standard radiotherapy. At 12 months’ follow-up, the post-therapy scores in both groups were significantly correlated with pretreatment scores (XQ, P = 0.02 and HNQOL, P <0.01). The authors conclude that IMRT results in better post-treatment QOL and reduced xerostomia when compared with standard radiotherapy, but that these benefits might not be manifested until several months after completion of therapy.

Original article:
Jabbari S et al. (2005) Matched case–control study of quality of life and xerostomia after intensity-modulated radiotherapy or standard radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer: initial report. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 63: 725–731